How to Make Gel Plate Monoprints (DIY Art Printing)

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How to Make Gel Plate Monoprints (DIY Art Printing)

Learn how to make gel plate monoprints with just a few simple supplies, a few minutes and no skill needed.

Monoprints are single time prints and can be created with just paint or layers of texture and impressions.

These are super fun to create and I'll teach you how to get the best results, but you can experiment and make them your own in no time at all.

WHAT IS GEL PLATE PRINTING?

Gel plate, (gelli arts printing plates, gelli arts plates, gelatin, gelli printing, gelatin printing, gel printing plate, gelli plate printing, and gelli prints,) all refer to the concept of adding paint and pigment to a thick gelatin surface and then pressing paper over the top of it to reveal a single monoprint.

A monoprint is a single print...not a block print that can be repeated for mass quantities.

You'll need a few other supplies, but this is a very easy craft medium that anyone can try!

WHAT IS GEL PLATE PRINTING? Gel plate, (gelli arts printing plates, gelli arts plates, gelatin, gelli printing, gelatin printing, gel printing plate, gelli plate printing, and gelli prints,) all refer to the concept of adding paint and pigment to a thick gelatin surface and then pressing paper over the top of it to reveal a single monoprint. A monoprint is a single print...not a block print that can be repeated for mass quantities. You'll need a few other supplies, but this is a very easy craft medium that anyone can try!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GEL PLATE FOR PRINTING

There are recipes and ways to make your own gelatin plate with tablespoons of gelatin, but I'm not going through that DIY process here though, sorry!

Homemade plates are made with a little bit of gelatin powder, cold water, rubbing alcohol, glycerin and a shallow pan or flat trays.

They can be cleaned with a baby wipe or spray bottle of water after use and wiped gently, but they don't last a long time as commercial plates.

I haven't tried making my own original gel plate, I just purchased one that I can use over and over!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GEL PLATE FOR PRINTING There are recipes and ways to make your own gelatin plate with tablespoons of gelatin, but I'm not going through that DIY process here though, sorry! Homemade plates are made with a little bit of gelatin powder, cold water, rubbing alcohol, glycerin and a shallow pan or flat trays. They can be cleaned with a baby wipe or spray bottle of water after use and wiped gently, but they don't last a long time as commercial plates. I haven't tried making my own original gel plate, I just purchased one that I can use over and over!

Supplies Needed for Gel Plate Monoprinting:

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Gel Press Plates (they come in different sizes, I am using 8x10)
Clean Brayer (I recommend getting one the width of your gel plate, but it's fine if it's smaller)
Sheet of Paper (I love 28 lb. Laser Printing paper)
Acrylic Paints (I recommend inexpensive craft paint, but not the cheapest. If you buy from PlaidOnline use the code DOODLECRAFT15 for 15% off.)
Baby Wipe Container

Other Gel Plates:

You may also want some random household items to add impressions and fun textures to your gel prints, here's some ideas of things to try:

Leaf or a variety of leaves
Feather or lots of feathers
Bubble Wrap (all sizes)
Netting (check that rubbish bin!)
Stencils
Plastic Wrap
High-quality Magazine Pages
Rubber Bands
String (yarn, twine and more)
Burlap
Spray Bottle of Water
Corrugated Cardboard

NOTE: Avoid making impressions with any kind of sharp objects

Let's get started with the first print making a rainbow feather print!

Supplies Needed for Gel Plate Monoprinting: affiliate links Gel Press Plates (they come in different sizes, I am using 8x10) Clean Brayer (I recommend getting one the width of your gel plate, but it's fine if it's smaller) Sheet of Paper (I love 28 lb. Laser Printing paper) Acrylic Paints (I recommend inexpensive craft paint, but not the cheapest) Baby Wipe Container Other Gel Plates: Gelli Arts 9x12 Gelli Arts 18x24 (poster size) Gel Printing Plate 5x7 You may also want some random household items to add impressions and fun textures to your gel prints, here's some ideas of things to try: Leaf or a variety of leaves Feather or lots of feathers Bubble Wrap (all sizes) Netting (check that rubbish bin!) Stencils Plastic Wrap High-quality Magazine Pages Rubber Bands String (yarn, twine and more) Burlap Spray Bottle of Water Corrugated Cardboard NOTE: Avoid making impressions with any kind of sharp objects Let's get started with the first print making a rainbow feather print!

HOW TO MONOPRINT A FEATHER ON A GEL PLATE:

Gel Plate Monoprints Part 1:

You'll need 3 shades of acrylic craft paint: pink (can also use any shade of red), yellow and aqua (can also use any shade of blue).

The red or pink will blend with the yellow, creating orange.

The yellow will blend with the aqua or blue, creating green.

It makes a great partial rainbow...no purple, but it's a fun way to teach about mixing colors.

HOW TO MONOPRINT A FEATHER ON A GEL PLATE: Gel Plate Monoprints Part 1: You'll need 3 shades of acrylic craft paint: pink (can also use any shade of red), yellow and aqua (can also use any shade of blue). The red or pink will blend with the yellow, creating orange. The yellow will blend with the aqua or blue, creating green. It makes a great partial rainbow...no purple, but it's a fun way to teach about mixing colors.

Step 1: Set up Workspace

First thing, set your Gel Plate on a flat work surface, a piece of cardboard, a plastic place mat or something that can be cleaned easily.

The surface of the plate should be clean of debris, keeping some baby wipes on hand is perfect for this.

Step 1: Set up Workspace First thing, set your Gel Plate on a flat work surface, a piece of cardboard, a plastic place mat or something that can be cleaned easily. The surface of the plate should be clean of debris, keeping some baby wipes on hand is perfect for this.

Step 2: Layer of Paint

Begin creating a fun color palette by adding a "pea" size amount of pink paint on the left center edge of the top of the gel plate.

It does not need much liquid paint to make a great print, if there is too much paint it won't stick to the paper completely, so just enough to cover the top of the gel plate.

Then add yellow paint in the center and blue on the side of the plate.

Now use the brayer or roller to spread the paint out into a thin layer covering the top of the plate.

This brayer is nearly 8 inches wide, so it almost does the whole gel plate in one swipe, which is nice rather than having to clean the brayer to make smooth transitions.

Keep swiping the paint over and over and watch as it fills the gel plate and begins to blend into the neighboring colors creating more of the color palette spectrum.

Now use the brayer or roller to spread the paint out into a thin layer covering the top of the plate. This brayer is nearly 8 inches wide, so it almost does the whole gel plate in one swipe, which is nice rather than having to clean the brayer to make smooth transitions. Keep swiping the paint over and over and watch as it fills the gel plate and begins to blend into the neighboring colors creating more of the color palette spectrum.

Step 3: Impression and Texture

Now is the perfect time to place any objects on the print.

I am using a crow feather I found in my backyard...I love crows!

Ruffle up the edges of the feather to give it more dimension and texture for the print.

This feather can print over and over, so make it a great shape and use it on lots of different prints.

Now place the feather face down on the top of the gel plate coated in a thin layer of paint.

Place a fresh piece of paper or a piece of cardstock on top of the gel plate and rub all over the surface with your hands.

Press onto the feather carefully and around all the edges to get the best print.

Then carefully peel up just one edge of the paper and reveal the feather, then remove the feather and replace the paper.

Lay the paper back down on the gel plate and press where the feather was originally before removing it.

This will bring up the best part of the feather to make great prints!

Finally, peel back the paper carefully, you will feel it stick to the gel plate and create a little resistance.

It's really oddly satisfying!

Then reveal your very first gel plate monoprint!

It's beautiful and detailed!

Finally, peel back the paper carefully, you will feel it stick to the gel plate and create a little resistance. It's really oddly satisfying! Then reveal your very first gel plate monoprint! It's beautiful and detailed!

Repeat the gel plate mono-printing with different things, like leaves, netting and other textures.

It's so easy to create beautiful prints with a different effect!

HOW TO MONOPRINT GINKGO LEAVES ON A GEL PLATE:

Gel Plate Monoprints Part 2:

To keep you inspired, let's do a ginkgo leaf monoprint.

This also works with any type of leaf.

Additional Supplies for this Mono Print:

Black Cardstock
Gold Metallic Acrylic Paint
Ginkgo Leaves

HOW TO MONOPRINT GINKGO LEAVES ON A GEL PLATE: Gel Plate Monoprints Part 2: To keep you inspired, let's do a ginkgo leaf monoprint. This also works with any type of leaf. Additional Supplies for this Mono Print: Black Cardstock Gold Metallic Acrylic Paint Ginkgo Leaves

Step 1: Gold Paint

Begin by squeezing a daub of gold metallic paint in the middle of the gelatin plate.

Step 2: Brayer

Use the roller or brayer to roll the paint around the entire flat surface of the gel plate.

Step 3: Ginkgo Leaves

I spell it gingko and ginkgo...Ginkgo is correct spelling, but gingko is common, so I'm just throwing them both in here.

If you have a neighbor with a Ginkgo tree, go and collect some leaves.

Otherwise, take a nature walk and find a few beautiful leaves to turn into your monoprint.

Step 3: Ginkgo Leaves I spell it gingko and ginkgo...Ginkgo is correct spelling, but gingko is common, so I'm just throwing them both in here. If you have a neighbor with a Ginkgo tree, go and collect some leaves. Otherwise, take a nature walk and find a few beautiful leaves to turn into your monoprint.

Fill the gold surface of the gel plate with ginkgo leaves...or just a big maple leaf!

Step 4: Black Paper

Now cover the gel plate, leaves and all with a piece of black cardstock.

Press firmly over the top, pressing down on the leaves and around the edges of them.

Now, lift up one side of the paper, and remove the ginkgo leaves from the press...don't throw them away!

We can use them over and over for monoprints or turn them into something fun with that hint of gold paint on them.

Then place the black paper back down on the gel plate and lift up the other side of the paper and remove the ginkgo leaves under it.

Then place the paper back down on the gel plate.

Press the paper with your hand, getting those final gingko leaf details back onto the black paper and then gently peel up the paper revealing your gorgeous monoprint!

The gold on black monoprint is stunning!

I love how the delicate leaves turned out--it's so much fun!

You can add these fun textures and details to junk journals, mixed media and even high quality art!

I'll show some fun things to do with monoprints this week in separate blog posts too!

If you are making a bunch of prints, lay them out on a flat surface and let the paint dry completely (which is actually really fast) before doing anything with them.

Happy crafting decorating your own paper!

The gold on black monoprint is stunning! I love how the delicate leaves turned out--it's so much fun! You can add these fun textures and details to junk journals, mixed media and even high quality art! I'll show some fun things to do with monoprints this week in separate blog posts too! If you are making a bunch of prints, lay them out on a flat surface and let the paint dry completely (which is actually really fast) before doing anything with them. Happy crafting decorating your own paper!

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GEL PRINTING PLATE:

After you are done with your mono prints, use a spare piece of paper and press it on the gel plate one final time, bringing off any remaining paint from the clean plate.

Then wash with a soft rag and hot water or a baby wipe...paper towels work but can leave some lint behind.

It is common for the gel plate to stain a little bit, mine looks green, but still works perfect.

Best way is to store it in the clam-shell container it came in, between the 2 plastic sheets to prevent debris from sticking to it for next time.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GEL PRINTING PLATE: After you are done with your mono prints, use a spare piece of paper and press it on the gel plate one final time, bringing off any remaining paint from the clean plate. Then wash with a soft rag and hot water or a baby wipe...paper towels work but can leave some lint behind. It is common for the gel plate to stain a little bit, mine looks green, but still works perfect. Best way is to store it in the clam-shell container it came in, between the 2 plastic sheets to prevent debris from sticking to it for next time.

Now you have elegant and stunning gold paper with the impression of unique leaves or other natural elements.

The ginkgo leaf is a symbol of hope, peace, longevity, strength, and resilience.

OTHER GEL PLATE MONOPRINT IDEAS:

Here's some other fun ways to use your gel plate.

Use a paint palette filled with acrylic paint and a paint brush to paint directly onto the gel plate.

Print over the top of a previous print (in this case, onion bag netting) to create lots of layers of texture and dimension.

Paint a bunch of flowers and leaves over the top of the gel plate.

The flat surface is the perfect canvas for prints.

You can try using a different type of paper.

You can use different types of paint too...give watercolors a try too!

You can do an impression, then cover the entire surface of the gel plate with white paint and then print on colored paper, magazine pages or even a book page.

There are so many fun ways to play with a gel plate.

You can try using a different type of paper. You can use different types of paint too...give watercolors a try too! You can do an impression, then cover the entire surface of the gel plate with white paint and then print on colored paper, magazine pages or even a book page. There are so many fun ways to play with a gel plate.

If you are adding thick layers of paint, let them dry a little before covering with paper.

If you let them dry completely, add a thin layer of paint to the full surface and then print.

Again, using a printed paper and adding more printing to it is so much fun!

The best print isn't always the one you think it will be, so get a scrap piece of paper and try it out, once you get the feel for it, get out the nice paper.

The layers make a really cool effect!